HT's Mumbai Special unplugs Salman Khan with a Bang!

(Re-updated at 06:00 pm)
Televisionpoint.com Team
The Hindustan Times was launched with a bang in Mumbai today morning, selling out in a matter of hours and setting the news agenda for the day, possibly even the week.

The paper's lead story, an investigation that exposed links between the underworld and the film industry, was instantly followed up by all news channels. The 'Salman Tapes' continued to dominate television news programmes through the day. Although, NDTV has decided not to air the audio tapes, while The Times of India will not publish the HT News in its tomorrow's edition.

Accordingly, Bollywood star Salman Khan is again caught in a controversy, has audio tapes of conversations between Salman and several stars, chiefly Aishwarya, although, none of these have been heard before. This investigation is carried out by J. Dey of HT.

Hindustan Times has carried a transcript of an alleged conversation he had with Aishwarya in which the actor can be heard bragging about his underworld links. HT's editor, Avirook Sen, had authenticated the tapes contents.

According to the HT, These telephone conversations between Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai were recorded between August 28 and 30, 2001. Ash was supposed to leave for a long tour of the United States. Salman starts calling her on the eve of her departure. As soon as this news was flourished, Star News also played the tapes.

Meanwhile, Dipesh Mehta, Salman's lawyer said, "This is not the voice of Salman Khan. If you hear the tape, you can make out it's not Salman, It cannot be true because if the police had the cassette four years ago, they would have taken action against Salman then."

MR Mehta added, "This is an attempt by media to sensationalise, and the voice in the cassette is certainly not of Salman Khan,"

According to NDTV India, Home Minister Shivraj Patil declined to comment on Salman's reported links with the underworld. He said, "Don't ask me to comment on what others have said through the media."

The conversation showed how Salman tried to intimidate Aishwarya saying he could ask the underworld to shoot the actress and her family. The conversation begins with Salman asking Aishwarya, "Are you doing the Salem show or not? I want to know whether you are doing the Salem show or not?. Salman claims that he knew before hand that the film Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, produced by Bharat Shah, which eventually dragged him into a police case, was funded by gangster Chhota Shakeel. "No. Listen to me. Chori Chori Chupke Chupke was a Chota Shakeel film. I was the only one who knew. Not even Nadeem Rizvi or Bharat Shah," Salman is heard saying in the tapes, the HT said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh announced an inquiry as opposition BJP-Shiv Sena members in the assembly wanted the day's proceedings in the House adjourned to discuss the issue.

Hindustan Times was successful in whipping up a frenzy in the corridors of politics, the bureaucracy and the media. Almost all the News Channels picked up HT's story, and images of Salman and bits of the conversation were aired through the day.